Improvement in ivjachines for preparing flour



L. S. B H l G H ESTER.

Machine far Preparing Flour.

Patented Jan. 7, 1873.

AMPHOTO-LITNOGMPMC ca mfmssomvz's Mucus) Lewis s. 'emcnnsrnn. or BROOKLYN, new YORK, ASSIGNOR 'ro CHARLES F. CHICHESTER, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPRQVENIENT IN MACHINES FOR PREPARING FLOUR.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent Nol3 L5l3, dated J anua-ry '7, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Lnwrs S. OHIoHEsrER, of Brooklyn, Kings county, and State of New York, have invented an Improvement in Preparing Flour; and the following is declared to be a correct description thereof.

In grinding-mills the grain is rubbed bctween the surfaces of the stones and the hull broken into small pieces, and there is but little opportunity for air to aid in conveying the fine flour from between the stones.

My apparatus is made for comminutin g the flour by separating the same from the hulls by concussion, that also breaks the particles of flour from each other by blows, instead of resorting to any rubbing or grinding operation. The current of air in the apparatus conveys away the flour as it becomes sufficiently fine. The action of the air and the beaters removes the flour from the hulls, so that they separate with great facility, and there is nothing of heat or friction in the operation to cause the flour to adhere to the bran, and the current of air prevents the flour being heated, as in the ordinary grinding operation.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a sectional plan of the separating apparatus, and Fig. 2 is a vertical section transversely to the shaft.

A shaft, to, is mounted in suitable bearings b b, and driven by competent power. Upon this shaft are heaters c c projecting nearly radially and in any desired number, and these are arranged to revolve between the divisions d d in the case 6.

It is preferable that the case should be of a conical form, as shown, and that the beaters increase in length from the supply end toward the delivery end, and that the longer heaters should be the most flexible, so as to receive a tremulous motion in the act of revolving and striking the particles of flour and bran. These heaters are preferable when made of springsteel, secured firmly by nuts or otherwise into the shaft or into a cylinder or ring surroundin g the same.

The divisions d d are made with openings 1; from one space to the next, and also with depressions o in the surfaces. The grain is supplied at s by any suitable spout,and the flour and bran taken away from r to a chamber or receptacle that retains the flour, but allows air to pass oft. For this purpose bags or screens may be employed to retain the flour and allow the air to pass through.

The revolution of this shaft to and its heaters produces a suction of air at the smaller end and a current of air through the case, and hence the particles of flour and bran will be conveyed off with the same, and the grain will be exposed to a series of blows from the beaters. The depressions 0 will cause eddies or whirls in the air as the heaters pass by them, so that the particles will be thrown into the path of the heaters instead of being carried around by them.

The openingsi in the divisions d are beveled toward the supply end of the apparatus, so that the heaters that revolve contiguous to the side that is not beveled may draw the air and flopr through from one chamber to the next.

I have shown the case 0 and divisions d as divided at the central line of the shaft a, and at e the two parts of the case are hinged together, which allows of the upper section being raised to give access to the interior of the apparatus.

I claim as my inventiona 1. A case with supply-chute near one end and a delivery-chute near the other end, in combination with a revolving horizontal shaft armed with ranges of flexible heaters and divisions placed within such case having openings to allow the material to pass from one range of heaters to the next, substantially as set forth.

2. The divisions d (I having depressions o and openings or months c, as set forth, in combination with the ranges of beaters, as and for the purposes specified.

Signed by me this 11th day of April, 1872.

LEWIS S. GHIOHESTER.

Witnesses GEO. D. WALKER, GEO. T. PINQKNEY. 

